Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

 

 

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Greatness is a word I want to stress regarding this game. Drake's Fortune was great fun, a welcome departure from the end of the world/futuristic shooters predominating at the time. Among Thieves was the ultimate sequel and built wonderfully on all aspects of the first. Drake's Deception, the third entry in the series, is something else altogether. This game sets a new precedent for how inclusive and engaging video games can be. There will be some who won't feel so strongly but anybody who loved the first two is going to LOVE this.

>Graphics 5/5 - As always, fantastic! They have managed to improve on the sequel. While the game still looks the same overall it is the details that ND continues to add that makes each game an improvement over the previous one. This entry specifically seems to push the already present cinematic feel - as evidenced brilliantly by its opening scene and chapter as well as numerous times during the game in cutscenes and gameplay.

They show off their abilities by purposely trying to show us different settings than the previous games. The London Underground is wonderfully designed, the Colombia streets are populated and lively, a temple found in Syria has a wonderfully cinematic design, etc. They also show off their ability to render fire, sand, some excitingly trippy hallucination style sequences where everything is warped, and a fantastic (if slightly out of place) swaying environment on a ship. Another nice touch is some levels occurring during day and others at night.

Character acting has again improved as much between this and the last game as the last game did over the original. Faces are fuller and more expressive (Chloe's face is major evidence of this). This game looks so good family members will stop to see what I am watching and so entertaining they then wind up sitting down to watch me play.

>Gameplay 4.5/5 - Drake's Deception has everything you loved about the first two games, only more finessed and perfected. Enemies are now slightly smarter and diverge on your position quicker (though in some ways I'd argue this makes them easier to take down, no more pin downs). The weapons system has been updated and tweaked (anyone who played the beta knows aiming is more particular, but you quickly adapt). Drake now grabs weapons automatically when out of ammo, another nice added detail.

The best new feature seems to be the updated brawling system. In what reminds me of the recent Batman Arkham games, Nate can now evade, counter and take on multiple opponents. It's all great fun and plays well. The ability to dive underwater becomes well utilized in later chapters. The new ability to ride a horse is simple but works well, think of the jet ski from the first game only updated, you sort of just steer and shoot. Another nifty new detail is the ability to throw back grenades, though you have to time it well.

Having finished the game I will say objectively that any faults to be found are in gameplay pacing.mechanics. All games I've experienced have a sometimes clumsy quality to gameplay. On occasion you press a button and it doesn't do what you want, that's just part of gaming. In Uncharted this manifests itself when sometimes trying to reach for a specific ledge, it can look like Drake is doing calisthenics.

The other issue is more subjective but this game seems to have less prolonged gun fights (which I always enjoyed) and more of the game plays itself in a sense. Another reviewer said it best noting that the game holds the players hand more this go around (press square now, circle now, etc), this may please some but will definitely aggravate others looking for more challenge.

>The story 5/5 - I won't give anything away but well crafted stories are a key reason for the popularity of this franchise, this entry doesn't disappoint in that regard. The actors perform great as always, so many nuances brought to the characters. This game takes the world of the previous games and expands on it. If the second game was a continuation of the story from the first then this game is an opening up of the characters, their world and the story being told.

A wonderful backstory for Nate and Sully is crafted and played out and a flashback of sorts is handled in a respectful way when it could've felt cheap or forced. There is a very Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade feeling here. This game has the mix of action, humor and romance that previous games had with strong emphasis on emotion in some key scenes (and for those concerned I felt Elena and Chloe's respective returns were well handled and logical continuations).

Another possible criticism though, the villain in this entry is formidable and compelling but when you finally reach the ending I don't feel she is as well utilized a final boss as either Navaro or Lazarvic. There is no real boss showdown.

>Online Content 5/5- It was adding the online content to the sequel that propelled this series to a new status within the gaming world and here it looks like they aim to keep that status. So far it looks like all the fun of the Beta without most of the bugs or any of the restraints. Everything seems to run smoother and it feels more like playing Uncharted 2's online content, though perhaps this is because I'm more used to the updated mechanics after playing the full campaign? Anyway, you get more customization, more options, more everything.

>Conclusion > Game of the year? You better believe it. Certainly if you are new to PS3 or debating the commitment this game makes it well worth it. You don't have to have played the first two for this to be enjoyable (though I suggest both based on their own merits and to make this story even more enjoyable). While some game studios dream in the recesses of their mind only to wake and find it vanity, Naughty Dog are dreamers of the day. They act their dreams with open eyes to make it possible, and in making Drake's Deception, this they did.

The game is 22 chapters of greatness and should be a good 8-10 hours on the main story depending on player ability. Then there is the treasure hunting/trophies and acclaimed multiplayer to ensure you get well worth the $60 price tag. Overall I'd say this game could be critically rated at the worst 4.5/5 but as a fan I'll say anyone else who enjoys these games is going to rate it 5/5, no doubt.

**I know this won't bother most but I was disappointed and perplexed to see the Cutscene Theater completely removed from this entry's main menu, I know people can view them all on youtube but it was nice to rewatch them right from the game menu on my HDTV. If anyone knows why they removed this please let me know, is it because of the amount of cutscenes this time or what?**

Greatness from small beginnings is the phrase that starts out this story.

Uncharted 3 takes us to a whole new world of treasure hunting like never before. In this game, not only do you play as Drake, but as a young (child version) Drake as well. The story jumps back in time through out the game, where we learn how Drake and Sully met and become friends. A new woman is brought into the picture. This time, she's a former love interest of Sully and not Drake.

Rather than starting out the game in the middle of nowhere like Uncharted 2, this time you're in the heart of Europe in a British pub. But just as in past games, you are quickly jumping from location to location throughout the world. Each scene remarkably done and visually stunning.

On thing I really like that's different in the Uncharted 2 storyline is this time there's less issues with your team mates turning on you. In Uncharted 2, people on your team were often taking off, and you lost your allies as quickly as they joined you. In Uncharted 3, your team of 4 sticks with you and works together. Your not getting abandoned because you partner ran off with the bad guys, even if they were just pretending to be on their side.

The story is just as compelling as it has always been. Uncharted 3 plays out like a blockbuster movie, only you get to control the moves. Climbing, running, fighting and shooting your way through everything you can imagine, Uncharted 3 has managed to even out do their last game. As usual, while playing you also look for treasures throughout the game to collect. You have your journal again to help you solve puzzles as well.

Online game play is set up by using a pass code that's included in the games case. Once set up, you have game play options such as:
Team Deathmatch
Plunder
Team Objective
Three Team Deathmatch
Free-for-All
Hardcore
Co-op Arena
Co-op Hunter Arena
Co-op Adventure

The online game play benefited quite a bit from the open beta testing. The online matches are smoother and have less issues than there were months ago when they first opened the testing. I played quite a bit during that first month and can definitely see much more fluidity in the online game play movement versus how it was during beta.

This is not a game you will want to rush through. There is so much to see, treasure to collect and story behind it all.

I'll start by saying Drake's Fortune is my favorite of the series even though Among Thieves improved on everything except story in my opinion (I just liked Drake's Fortune much better). Also I'm not into online gaming all that much I play multiplayer once out of every few months depending on the game and for Uncharted I just play multiplayer to get the 2 quick trophies then never return to that section of the game again.

Uncharted 3: The Good

-Graphics are not that much better than Uncharted 2 no surprise really

-Controls are pretty much the same with a few new small additions

-Story for the most part was good, not great but good

Uncharted 3: The Bad & Supremely Disappointing

-Most of the game you have 1-3 Characters following you and they get pretty aggrivating when they move in front of you and just stop causing you to cease walking in that direction and literally taking a few steps back and walk around them if they dont move, plus when going to take cover during gunfights they can totally screw you when you go to hide behind something and they go to the exact spot you are going for. These arent huge problems but its enough to annoy you or possibly get you shot up

-Even though the game is good it feels like a crappy Michael Bay or Jerry Bruckheimer movie

-Aiming guns can be a pain but if you go into the options you can fix that

-Maybe its just me but Drake's Deception was pretty repetitive, it felt like a quarter of the game was a chase either running from or after someone or something. also the hand to hand combat although upgraded got boring real quick shouldve just left it the way it was in Among Thieves.

-It seems my fear of multiplayer affecting the single player came true after all. The game is considerably shorter than the first 2 games but it has a bunch more content in the multiplayer than Uncharted 2 had. It took me about 12-15 hrs to beat Uncharted 1 & 2's story on normal, Drake's Deception took me a solid 7.5 hrs on normal slightly faster than the 8hrs most reviewers say it will take and in crushing it took about a hour longer than normal difficulty.

-Now the main reason I dont give this 5 stars. Remember the singleplayer unlockable items from the first 2 games where you get medals for doing set goals while playing which leads to you being able to buy things to unlock on later playthroughs? Examples are: costumes, weapons, slow mo, diferent filters (like playing in black and white or whatever else there was), mirror world, gravity,and anyhting else I missed. There are no single player unlockables which for me severely lowers any chance of playing through it after I 100% the game.

Naughty Dog really lowered my expectations with Drake's Deception, future Uncharted games will require a rent or a greatest hits price drop, i'm not making another what I like to call a "Final Fantasy mistake" and wasting 60 dollars on something that ultimatley makes me hate the series.
Hopefully Naughty Dog reads bad reviews not just the 8-10/10's to see what they screwed up on for possible future entries in Uncharted, I really don't want to end up hating this series in the future.

If youre mainly a single player gamer like me wait until the price drops before buying this.

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5.0 out of 5 stars One if the best video games I have ever played
If the incredible storyline or the character development won't intrigue you, then the breathless graphics will. I couldn't stop playing this game.

Published 4 hours ago by KZimowski

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazinng game.....while it lasts
This was my first ps3 game, and i loved it. It has a great gameplay, graphics, scenarios and story. The only defect i found was that, for being a game that focuses on the single... Read more

Published 17 hours ago by Bertin S. Salguero

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better!
The latest incarnation of the franchise is even better! The detail and quality of the graphics are unequaled! Read more

Published 21 hours ago by Ralph N. Mahoney

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Classic and GOTY
Most who have never played the Uncharted series feel that it is over rated and hyped to an undeserved level. Read more

Published 1 day ago by koolaide

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the Last!?
First off--U3 is a great game. I was a little concern about this one, since the 2nd one was really really great. Read more

Published 2 days ago by Tek Kee

4.0 out of 5 stars A tad over-hyped
Great game and a great way to cap off an amazing trilogy. But the final installment left more to be desired. Read more

Published 2 days ago by Darian Green

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but some flaws
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4.0 out of 5 stars Uncharted 3
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Published 2 days ago by bbj1968

5.0 out of 5 stars is LSD the Deception?!
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Published 3 days ago by beau tschirhart

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